Matrix drier



Jan. 18, 1938; p J HEREFORD 2,105,973

MATR IX DRIER Filed July 13, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet l Jan. 18, 1938. P. J. HEREFORD MATRIX DRIER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 13, 1936 Patented Jan. 18, 1938 UNITED sTrs i AENT OFFICE 3 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in matrix driers and has for its objects to provide a simply constructed oven which will evenly distribute the accumulated heat therein in a manner to circulate around the green matrix and thoroughly dry the same evenly throughout its entire area.

These and other objects hereinafter set forth are accomplished by the means illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a perspective View of the improved oven;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken longitudinally of the oven;

15 Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 33; and

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 44 of Fig. 2.

Similar reference numerals in all of the figures of the drawings designate like parts.

This particular drying oven is formed with insulated side walls all around, the walls preferably being constructed of sheet-metal having an insulating material enclosed between the same, but it will be understood that I do not wish to be limited to the particular insulation set forth.

The top-wall is preferably a sheet of relatively thin metal II which is constructed to support a sheet of asbestos I2. A lid l3 hinged at I and formed with depending flanges I5 is provided to cover the entire area of said top-wall, said lid being also provided on its underside with a sheet of foraminous material It, such as wire-mesh or the like which is slightly spaced from the topwall of the lid. This top-wall of the lid is also provided with a plurality of apertures ll adjacent its edges for a purpose hereinafter described.

The oven portion of the drier is formed by the side-walls l0, top-plate II, and a bottom-plate l8 preferably constructed of a double thickness of sheet-metal having supporting bars l9 which extend down at their ends and are suitably connected to the side-walls. The area of this sup porting-plate is less than the cross-section of the oven; therefore, when supported centrally, heat passages 20 are formed all around the edges of said plate.

Upon the upper surface of said bottom-plate and suitably secured adjacent its edges are a plurality of grooved guides 2|, one at each edge, which support the wire frame 22, formed with base-wires 23 that are adapted to rest in the grooves and arcuate end-frames 24. This wireframe has secured thereto an arcuated wire-mesh support 25 extending all around said arcuate endframes 24, both together forming a supporting unit for the matrix to be dried. This sup-porting unit is removable from and replaceable in the oven by sliding the same in guides 2|, and a door 26 is provided in the front wall of the oven to permit withdrawal or insertion of the supporting unit, with or Without a matrix thereon.

Adjacent the top edges of the front and rear walls, the front wall being formed by the door 26 in this instance, suitable apertures 21 are provided for a purpose hereinafter stated.

An arcuated deflector 28 is secured to the underside of the top-wall II and side-walls and located to follow the contour of the arcuate mesh of the matrix supporting frame and a sufficient distance therefrom to form a heat-chamber around the outside of the supporting frame. This deflector 28 is formed with a V-shaped groove at its top-side to form a heat baffle 28' at the topside of the oven.

Heat forming burners 29 of any suitable kind or construction, such as gas burners, oil burners or electric burners, are suspended in any suitable manner in the combustion chamber 3|]. In the present instance, gas burners are shown.

In operation, the door 26 is opened and the matrix supporting frame is withdrawn from the oven and a wet matrix from the mold is placed upon the supporting frame mesh cover. The supporting frame with the matrix thereon is then replaced in the oven and the door 26 is closed. The heat from the. burners heats the bottomplate l8 to transmit the heat therefrom to the underside of the supporting mesh 25 and the underside of the matrix supported thereon. The heat from the burners also is deflected by the bottom-plate and passes through the edge passages 20 into the arcuate heat chamber formed by the deflector 28 and to the top-side of the matrix. As the matrix dries, the moisture therein is driven out and escapes to the atmosphere through the apertures 21. It will be understood that the mesh support for the matrix is shaped to conform to the exact size of the matrix, so that it will be evenly supported throughout its area while being dried. It will be further understood that when the heat from the burners rises through the heat passage 20, it is deflected against passing to the other side of the oven by the baffle 28', thereby accumulating heat within the heat chambers at each side of the bafiie and thus making an even temperature for drying the matrix.

The oven can be provided with legs or not as desired.

It is obvious that a flat matrix can be dried by pressing the same between the foraminous sheet I B and the asbestos filling 12 forming a part of the top-wall of the oven.

I claim:

1. A device of the character described, comprising an oven having a heatable bottom, a foraminous matrix support mounted slidably on said bottom, burners located beneath said bottom for heating the same, heat passages around the edges of the bottom to permit heat to rise to the topside of said foraminous support, apertures in the walls of the oven, and an arcuate heat deflector mounted in the oven in parallel relation to said foraminous support to concentrate the heat to a matrix supported on its support, said arcuate deflector being formed with a baflie at its topside to prevent circulation of the heat from one side of the oven to the other side.

2. A device of the character described, comprising an oven having a heatable bottom, a foraminous matrix support formed of a single layer of wire mesh mounted slidably in suitable guides on said bottom, burners located beneath said botraminous matrix support mounted slidably on said bottom, said matrix support embodying a rigid wire frame for supporting the foraminous support, burners located beneath said bottom for heating the same, heat passages around the edges of the bottom at both sides of the oven to permit heat to rise to the top-side of said foraminous support, apertures in the outside walls of the oven, and an arcuate heat deflector mounted in the oven in parallel relation to said foraminous support to concentrate the heat to a matrix supported on its support.

PEARL J. HEREFORD. 

